The 2026 NFL season will begin on September 9 with a Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. This marks the first Super Bowl rematch to kick off the regular season since 2016.
The 2026 NFL regular season will kick off on Wednesday, September 9.
It had long been announced that the Seattle Seahawks would start their Super Bowl defense in the first game of the season; the only question was who they would play.
The Seahawks will start the 2026 season with a Super Bowl rematch against the New England Patriots, according to Jordan Schultz.
It is the first time since 2016 that the regular season began with a rematch of the previous seasonās Super Bowl. That year, the Denver Broncos started their title defense with a 21-20 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Seattleās offense will look a little different from what it did in February. Kenneth Walker III is now with the Kansas City Chiefs, and running back Zach Charbonnet will miss the start of the year due to a torn ACL.
The 2026 NFL season will start on Wednesday, September 9.
The Seattle Seahawks will face the New England Patriots in the season opener.
The last NFL season to begin with a Super Bowl rematch was in 2016.
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The Seahawks re-vamped in the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price at the end of the first round. The biggest addition through free agency was defensive end Dante Fowler Jr.
The Patriots' offseason has been overshadowed by off-the-field drama with head coach Mike Vrabel. When it comes to football, though, all eyes are on whether or not New England will trade for wide receiver A.J. Brown.
The WR room has already been overhauled a bit, as Stefon Diggs was released and replaced by Romeo Doubs on a four-year, $68 million contract. The Patriots also notably signed safeties Mike Brown and Kevin Byard III, linebacker DreāMont Jones and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.
New England also added Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu with the 28th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to help protect quarterback Drake Maye.
Not only will the Seahawks and Patriots be the first Super Bowl rematch to open up the following season in 10 years, but also will usher the NFL into a new era of starting the season on a Wednesday.